Arsenal midfielder at centre of Ireland-England quandary secures loan move

Dan Crowley is on the move but he doesn't have to go as far as Barnsley this time.

The 18-year-old midfielder will move to Oxford United on a season-long loan deal. Crowley played 11 times for Barnsley last season and Arsene Wenger is keen on securing him further game time by loaning him out again. The Coventry native will be teammates with Ireland winger Callum O'Dowda [below], who made his senior debut against Belarus, next season at the League One outfit. An Arsenal statement about Crowley, who captained the youth side in the FA Cup and is a regular with the Gunners' U21s, read:

'Everyone at Arsenal wishes Dan the best of luck as he looks to gain further first-team experience.'

Crowley has flip-flopped between Irish and English underage sides in recent years. He has represented both countries at U16 and U17 levels but, most recently, lined out for England U19s. That was in October 2015, just a month after Martin O'Neill had told the press about a positive discussion with Crowley's father. The teenager is still free to switch allegiances again but, last December, Ireland U21 boss Noel King said he would not be pursuing him. Crowley would have to make a call on his international future himself, King declared.